Theresa May’s senior special adviser Stephen Parkinson is leaving government to go and work for Vote Leave, the EU referendum Out campaign. Parkinson, who previously worked on the No to AV campaign, will start next month.

Stephen Parkinson, Theresa May’s outgoing senior special adviser
The fact that someone who has worked so closely with the Home Secretary is joining the Out campaign will intensify speculation that May herself will soon come out for leaving the EU. But those close to her emphasise that she is waiting to see the result of the renegotiation before making up her mind. However, as I report in the forthcoming issue of the magazine, she still strongly believes that freedom of movement should be part of the renegotiation. At the moment, it is only on the table in the most limited of senses — Cameron told the Commons this week that he didn’t want it to apply to either criminals or benefit shoppers.

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